The wail of sirens echoing through traffic-clogged roads has become a grim routine in Tehran. Other regions with strategic sites are experiencing the same reality, with people either fleeing or adjusting to life under the shadow of war.

Since the war between Israel and Iran erupted on June 13, 2025, the situation has rapidly escalated. The outcome remains unpredictable, but one thing is certain: the Iranian people need our prayers. Nazanin Baghestani from Heart4Iran offers four key points to help guide intercession.

A map showing the countries bordering Iran. (image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

1. This conflict is more than a war between nations.
“Regimes are clashing with young, popular or religious movements in a civilizational struggle,” says Baghestani. Iran is facing a power vacuum, and if events take a different turn, the country could spiral into civil war or fall into the hands of extremist groups.

Pray for God’s will to prevail, and for wisdom and unity among the Iranian people as they seek a new future.

2. Emotions are deeply mixed.
In a historically unique moment, many Iranians feel both fear and a strange sense of hope when foreign strikes target regime facilities. Baghestani explains, “Every time Israel strikes, it increases the people’s happiness while they’re concerned about the nation and land. Yet, they’re tired of this regime, and they become hopeful for its defeat.”

Pray that people find lasting peace in Christ, who never changes.

3. Daily life is becoming more difficult.
Casualties are rising, and vital resources like food, gas, and electricity are increasingly scarce. “The leaders are either fleeing or emptying their accounts, and they have no thought for the liberation of the people or their lives,” she adds.

Pray that communities will support one another and rebuild quickly with compassion and resilience.

4. This is a defining moment for the Church.
“Time is right for the church to both support the people and proclaim the message of salvation.” Baghestani adds, “The church should empathize with the oppressed, support the refugees, and stand against injustice — inviting people to pray for their enemies, not just for military victory.”

Don’t forget the Iranian believers who are navigating both the turmoil of war and the call of the Great Commission. Stand with them — in prayer and in action.

Find your place in the story! Visit Heart4Iran to learn more about the spiritual needs of the Iranian people and the ways you can help. Pray that Iranian believers and evangelists will be bold, wise, and filled with love as they share the hope of the Gospel — even under the wail of air raid sirens.

Header photo courtesy of Inimafoto A via Unsplash

In the meantime, ministries like Transform Iran make bold use of satellite TV, YouTube, websites and more to spread the truth about Jesus. 

“We have two 24/7 radio stations, one purely worship music, and one a whole mix of discussion, Bible study, Bible reading. Any way that we can use the digital world to help us communicate with the people of Iran, we will use it,” says Lana Silk with Transform Iran.

Is reform on internet restrictions possible in Iran? We’ll have to wait and see. (Representative stock photo courtesy of Ali Haghighi via Unsplash.)

Silk shares the reasons that media is so effective in reaching Iranians. 

“One of them is the accessibility that it gives us. You can see that picture of the nomadic herdsman sitting in the foothills with his radio station dialing in, you know, right through to people in the inner cities on their social media networks, trying to access different information to what they’ve been fed.

“Also, media allows us more easily to speak to different language groups, ethnic minorities in Iran who wouldn’t as easily connect to a Farsi presentation of the gospel. We can have audio dramatizations of the Word of God in their languages, and suddenly we capture their hearts with that.” 

Another reason for media’s effectiveness comes from the Iranian regime itself, which bans access to Christian media. 

“They’re breeding an increased hunger in the people of Iran who want to know what this thing is that the government is so determined they don’t access. Again, media helps us get that to them quickly,” Silk says. 

Lives changed in God’s perfect timing

Stories come in regularly of how God led people to turn on Transform Iran’s TV or radio programs at a critical moment in their lives. Pray for more people to be reached! 

“We can be literally praying them through that process, that God would draw them to the media at the right time, that God would speak to them clearly in those moments when they’re reaching out, that there would be a heart connection,” Silk says. 

“Then once they hear the gospel, we can be praying for them to connect with believers for their discipleship process, for fruit to come out of their lives.”

(Photo courtesy of Transform Iran)

Consider sponsoring a broadcast segment at Transform Iran. Just $800 (€735) will cover all associated costs to produce 30 minutes of high-quality evangelistic or discipleship material for satellite broadcast. 

Learn more about Transform Iran’s media ministries and give here. 

Header photo courtesy of Transform Iran.

Although some changes have undoubtedly been made over the last year, this freedom only stretches so far.

Reporters Without Borders has announced that the Arab Spring has resulted in more internet censorship in the Middle East and North Africa. The group recently designated Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain to be "Internet Enemies" and has placed Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates "under surveillance," according to the Jerusalem Post.

Of course another result of the Arab Spring, however, has been open hearts to the Gospel. But studies show that about 95% of people in the Arab world will never meet a Christian. In those MENA nations that remain hostile toward Christianity and censor information outlets like the internet, finding the way to Christ isn't easy.

"Especially in light of what's happening with the Arab Spring, people are looking for other ways to access the Gospel," says Wayne Pederson with HCJB Global.

Pederson says people are going to extremes to get a glimpse of Jesus' teachings. "[One man] saved up money for several years so he could take his family to Europe so they could find out more about Jesus, and find out more–in freedom and safety–how they could become followers of Christ."

In response to this desperation, the few believers that are willing are risking everything to bring Christ to the masses effectively. And they're using radio.

HCJB trains radio personnel right on the ground across MENA nations. "The programs are produced in country by indigenous people that know the language and know the culture. Then the programs are sent out of the country where the post-production is done," explains Pederson.

They're using all means of communication—satellite, internet and shortwave–to get various programs out. Follow-up to programs is done by local church planters, often via text message and Skype.

Doing training and follow up work right on the ground is a feat few would take on. It's incredibly dangerous in some areas and isn't getting any easier. But the believers involved are committed to their call.

"Even though they do the training and do the programming at great risk, when they talk about it they say, ‘Jesus risked it all for me. How can I do anything less?'"

The risks they are taking are worth the results. A year ago, Intermedia did a survey for HCJB, concluding that 1.5 million people across the MENA region were listening to their broadcasts every week. HCJB was only covering about 30% of the region at that time. Now, they're covering about 60%. The listenership has undoubtedly increased, says Pederson.

Millions are hearing the truth of the Gospel via these radio programs, and despite any western perceptions of the Arab world, hearts are ready to listen.

Pederson notes, "There is a small percentage of terrorists that are making news around the world, but the huge majority of people in that part of the world are poor, destitute, despairing, and really are searching to find out who Jesus really is."

You can help HCJB in their efforts to reach this largely unreached region through their recently launched program Journey of Hope. Click here for more information.